Demi Lovato Responds to Rumors She Shaded Taylor Swift on Instagram During VMAs

On Tuesday (August 27), Lovato clarified on Instagram that the reason she could not attend the show was due to her "dream" involvement filming for Will & Grace.

"I didn't 'shade' anyone last night ... Stop reaching," she wrote in an Instagram Story. See below:

Lovato, who did not attend this year's show, posted an Instagram story during the live broadcast of the Video Music Awards (August 26) immediately after Swift won her second award for the night. Lovato wrote, "I skipped the VMAs for a REASON." She put "reason" in all caps, leading some to believe, due to the timing, that the "reason" was Swift.

The pop star quickly posted a follow up story which read, "Well that and I just hate award shows," adding a crying-laughing emoji.

It's unclear why Lovato would diss Swift during the VMAs in the first place, though some thought it might have something to do with Scooter Braun.

The singer signed a management deal with Braun earlier this year. Swift has been vocal about her history with Braun and her woes regarding music ownership rights after Braun bought her previous record label, Big Machine, for $300 million. (The deal included the masters for her first six albums.)

Swift shared that she plans to re-record her first five studio albums in November of 2020, when the contract allows her to do so.

During the VMAs, Swift took home the Video For Good award and the coveted Music Video of the Year award for "You Need to Calm Down."